Garage-door latch-releasing device



c. EfJoHNsoN Filed Nov. 24',

.will

GARAGE DOOR' LATCH RELEASINGDEVICE June 25, 1929.

, INVENToR .Gil/ow/vsa/v BY MMQSMJ TTORNEY Patented June 25, 1929.

UNTED STATES CARL E. JOHNSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

GARAGE-DOOR LATCH-RELEASING DEVICE.

Application led November 24, 1926. Serial No. 150,422.

The lliresent invention relates to improvements in garage door opening devices and its particular object is to provide means in combination with the door of a garage, allowing an approaching motor vehicle to open the door by the weight thereof. It is particularly proposed in this connection to provide garage door opening means of the character described of exceedingly simple construction. It is further proposed to pro vide a means of the character described that may be easily adjusted to any situation, whether the driveway slants upwardly or downwardly in its approach to the garage. A further object of the invention is to provide a means of the character described which can be easily rendered inoperative by the operator at any time desired. Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in whieh Figure 1 shows my arrangement in its relation to the front end of a garage in part plan view,

Figure 2 shows an inside view of the garage door with a latch arrangement and operating means for the same,

Figure a vertical section along line 3-3 of Fioure 1, and

Fi: -re 4; a perspective detail view of an operating mechanism for the door latch.

lllhile i have shown only the preferred fo n of the invention, I wish to have it unrl that various changes or modificaav be made within the scope of the l Yithout departing libreto attached t -e spiritof the invention.

e garag indicated at 1 is provided with two doors 2 hinged as shown at 3 and provided with spring means 4 tending to open the doors. A latch 6 slidable in a guide 7 on the door may be pushed into a second guide S arranged below the door for holding the door in position. A second latch 9 may be provided at the top of the door and may be made to cooperate with the lower latch by the links 11 and the lever 12.

A driveway 13 leads up to the garage and in one of the tracks of the driveway, there is provided a vertically movable platform 14 supported on a plurality of legs 16 resting on springs 17 in the wells 1'8. The springs are sufficiently strong that the weight of a person and particularly thc weight of a child will not affect the platform. lV hen the front wheel of a motor vehicle rests on the platform, the same is depressed and thereby imparts rocking motion to a shaft 19 by means of a link 21 bearing on an arm 22l extending from the shaft. The shaft 19 is preferably made of several sections which are joined by means of universal joints and is placed under the ground surface to extend into operative proximity of the latch 6. A tube 24 surrounding the shaft protects the same and allows it to be rocked. The opposite end of the shaft is formed with an arm 26, the outer end of which extends vertically under the latch 6 and has a member 27 pivoted thereto as shown at 2S, the latter member bearing against the end face ofthe latch so that when the arm' 26 is lifted due to the rocking motion of the shaft, the member 27 raises the latch 6 and thereby frees the doors so thatcthe latter open due to the action of the springs 4. The member 27 is held in vertical position en the arm 26 by a positive stop 29 on one side and a spring 31 on the other side, the spring being made so that it can be depressed which allows the member 27 to drop sideway as indicated in dotted line in Figure 2 which renders the device inoperative.

The manner of using my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, As the vehicle approaches the garage, one of the front wheels passes over the platform 14, depresses the latter, and thereby rocks the shaft- 19 which lifts the arm 16 and raises the latch 6. The motion of the latch 6 is transmitted to the latch 9 thru the links 11 and the lever 12 so that the doors are now free to spring outward. After the operator has driven the vehicle into the garage, he may press the member 27 sideway after depressing the spring 31 which renders the device inoperative so that no one may open the garage by merely depressing the platform. The operator may apply the latch by means of a key operating the lever 12 or in any other suitable manner.

I claim:

1. In combination, a door, a latch slidably mounted on the door and adapted to project from an edge thereof so as to prevent the opening of the door, a movable platform disposed at a .distance from the latch and an operative connection between the platform and the latch sliding the latch Civ on the door when the platform is depressed, so as to permit the opening of the door.

2. In combination, a door, a latch slidably secured to the door and adapted to project :from an edge thereof, a movable platform disposed at a distance. from the latch,

' a rocking shaft having two arms extending therefrom, an operative connection between the platform and one of the arms causing the latter to be rocked when the former is depressed and an operative connection between the other arm and the latch causing the latch to slide when: the platform is rocked, so as to allow the opening of the door.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2 in which the latter connection comprises a member fastened to the arm and bearing on the end of the latch.

l. In combination, a door, a latch for the same adapted to project from an edge thereof, a movable platform disposed at a distance from the latch, a rocking shaft having two arms extending therefrom, an operative connection between the platform and one of the arms, causing the latter to be rocked when the former is depressed, and an operativev connection between the other arm and the latch, causing the latter to withdraw when the platform is rocked, said connection comprising` a' member pivoted to the arm and adapted to bear on the end of the latch and stopping on opposite sides thereof, holding the same in operative position.

5. In combination, a door, a latch for the same adapted to project from an edge thereof, a movable platform disposed at a distance from the latch, a rocking shaft having two arms extending therefrom, an operative connection between the platform and one of the arms, causing the latterto be rocked when the former is depressed, and an operative connection between the other arm and the latch, causing the latter to withdraw when the platform is rocked, said connection comprising a member pivoted to the arm and adapted to bear on the end of the latch, stops on opposite sides thereof holding. the same in operative position, and means associated with one of the stops, allowing the same to be rendered inactive.

(5. ln combination, a rocking shaft having an arm extending therefrom, a plurality of wells surrounding the end of the arm and having springs therein, a platform having a pluralityT of supporting legs extending into the wells to bear on the springs anda link connecting the platform and the arm and depressing the latter when the platform is depressed. f

7. In combination, a door, a latch slidabl)7 secured to the door and adapted to project from an edge thereof so asV to prevent the opening of the door, a plurality Vof wells disposed at a distance from the latch, an arm in said wells, a rocking sha-ft actuated by said arm, a second arm at the other end of said rocking sha-ft adapted to move the latch when the shaft is rocked; a platform having a plurality of -supporting legs extending into t-he wells, springs in the wells, said supporting legs to bear upon said springs, and a link connecting the platform and said first arm and depressing the latter when the platform is depressed; said CVO arms being disposed in such relative posi- Y tion that the depression of said first arm causes said second arm to raise said latch.

8. ln combination, a'door, a latch slidably disposed upon said door, a keeper so disposed as to be engaged by said latch, a movable platform disposed at a distance from the latch, and an operative connection between the platform and the latch and abutting against the end of the latch-for sliding said latch out of engagement with said keeper when the platform is depressed.

9. In combination, a door, a latch slidably disposed upon said door, a keeper so disposed as to be engaged by said latch, a rocking shaft, an arm extending therefrom for abutting against the end of said latch so as to raise the same when the shaft is rocked,

a second arm extending from the opposite end of said rocking shaft, a plurality of wells surrounding the end of the second arm and having springs therein, a platform having'a plurality of supporting legs extending into the wells to bear on the spring, and a link connecting the platform and the second arm and depressing the latter when the platform is depressed, said second arm being so disposed as to cause the first arm to raise the latch when the platform is depressed. Y

ln testimony whereof I afHx my signature.

CARL E, JOHNSON. 

